TPP protesters embarrass New Zealand and themselves

ACT New Zealand
February 4, 2016. 11:45am

ACT Leader David Seymour says those involved in the ugly scenes outside Sky City should have stayed home and read about the benefits of trade or, better still, gone to work.

“Today is a chance to showcase New Zealand on the world stage. Instead, international media is broadcasting ugly, self-righteous hooliganism,” said Mr Seymour.

“They picked a bad year to protest. After 30 years of increasing trade, global absolute poverty will fall below 10 per cent for the first time in history. Absolute poverty has dropped two thirds over that period.

“Not to mention free trade being responsible for the cheap made-in-China clothes on the protesters’ backs.

“If they won’t research free trade, they could have at least gone to work like the rest of us. It’s already a short week – is working four days in a row too much for these people? If the TPP was signed on a weekend would they have Monday-ised the protest?

“The signing of the TPP is a huge win for New Zealand, and even bigger for developing countries such as Vietnam.

“Our exporters have increased access to huge markets. The volume of dairy concessions, for example, is actually greater than those gained in Labour’s NZ-China free trade agreement.

“What’s saddest, and indeed pathetic, about the protesters is that they’re actually objecting to very real improvements in the lives of impoverished people from around the globe.

“ACT has always been Parliament’s biggest cheerleader of free trade. Even Helen Clark knew should could always counts on ACT’s votes for trade initiatives. Today we’re celebrating.”

ENDS

© Scoop Media